World News
Hong Kong firm seeks $2 billion over Panama's takeover of 2 key canal ports
Panama Ports Company has operated the two ports since 1997 and renewed its concession in 2021 for another 25 years
 "Hong Kong firm seeks $2 billion over Panama's takeover of 2 key canal ports")
Balen Shah's RSP heads for victory in Nepal; Gen Z voters demand solutions
Young voters say mandate for new leadership must translate into visible change, warning that promises alone will not address corruption, unemployment, weak public services, and political instability
 "Balen Shah's RSP heads for victory in Nepal; Gen Z voters demand solutions")
Nepal general election: Balendra Shah's RSP wins 20 seats, leads in 98
The Nepali Congress has won four seats and is leading in 11 others, while the CPN-UML has won a seat and is leading in 11 constituencies
 "Nepal general election: Balendra Shah's RSP wins 20 seats, leads in 98")
Iran strikes key US THAAD radar, deepening Gulf missile defence woes
US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, units are meant to destroy ballistic missiles at the edges of the atmosphere, enabling them to engage more difficult threats
 "Iran strikes key US THAAD radar, deepening Gulf missile defence woes")
Musk's spam concern was 'confusing': Ex-Twitter executives tell court
Two days of testimony from Agrawal and Segal pushed back on Musk's own recollection that he was always committed to the deal, but believed that Twitter had lied to him about per cent of spam accounts
 "Musk's spam concern was 'confusing': Ex-Twitter executives tell court")
Oil nears tipping point as Hormuz traffic halts; traders warn of $100 crude
Some barrels from US are fetching their biggest premium since 2020, and value of major Norwegian grade, which moves almost lockstep with Brent, has gained more than $5 on the benchmark this week
 "Oil nears tipping point as Hormuz traffic halts; traders warn of $100 crude")
US may 'unsanction' more Russian oil after allowing India to buy: Bessent
US Treasury allows India to buy Russian oil already en route, signalling possible easing of sanctions on other Russian oil to address global supply gaps, says Scott Bessent
 "US may 'unsanction' more Russian oil after allowing India to buy: Bessent")
US customs agency says tariff refund system will be ready in 45 days
The tariffs that were a central part of President Donald Trump's economic policy were struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last month
 "US customs agency says tariff refund system will be ready in 45 days")
Ex-rapper's party heading towards landslide victory in Nepal elections
The outcome is expected to provide a strong government in Nepal, which has had 14 governments in the last 18 years
 "Ex-rapper's party heading towards landslide victory in Nepal elections")
Sri Lanka Navy 'safely' transfers 204 Iranian sailors from ship to Colombo
The navy said it will take at least two more days for the ship to reach the eastern port of Trincomalee from its current location outside capital Colombo
 "Sri Lanka Navy 'safely' transfers 204 Iranian sailors from ship to Colombo")
Qatar energy minister warns Gulf exports could halt within weeks: Report
"Everybody that has not called for force majeure we expect will do so in the next few days that this continues. All exporters in the Gulf region will have to call force majeure," Kaabi told the FT
 "Qatar energy minister warns Gulf exports could halt within weeks: Report")
No deal with Iran except 'unconditional surrender', declares Trump
Trump said in a social media post, adding that they would work to boost Iran's economy
 "No deal with Iran except 'unconditional surrender', declares Trump")
SoftBank seeks up to $40 billion loan to finance major OpenAI investment
The Japanese company, which held about 11 per cent in OpenAI at the end of December, has unloaded assets including its stake in Nvidia Corp., to bankroll its growing bet on OpenAI
 "SoftBank seeks up to $40 billion loan to finance major OpenAI investment")
Anthropic to fight Pentagon in court over supply chain risk label
Earlier Thursday, the Pentagon formally notified Anthropic that the company and its products pose a risk to the US supply chain
 "Anthropic to fight Pentagon in court over supply chain risk label")
An 'existential war' for Iran: Dy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khatibzadeh
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh calls the recent US-Israel strikes an "unnecessary war of choice", accusing Washington of betraying diplomacy
 "An 'existential war' for Iran: Dy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khatibzadeh")
Russian Urals crude price tops Brent in India as Iran war tightens supply
The US-Israeli war against Iran, which began a week ago, has choked the Strait of Hormuz, the main route for global oil
 "Russian Urals crude price tops Brent in India as Iran war tightens supply")
US Navy will escort ships through Hormuz 'when reasonable': US Energy Secy
Wright also said Americans should see lower gas prices in weeks, not months
 "US Navy will escort ships through Hormuz 'when reasonable': US Energy Secy")
India rejects claims navy shared intel on Iranian warship sunk by US
The US sank the Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, triggering shard reaction from Iran
Azerbaijan to evacuate diplomats from Iran over security concerns
Azerbaijan reacted angrily on Thursday to what it said was an incursion by Iranian drones into its Nakhchivan exclave, with President Aliyev threatening retaliation
 "Azerbaijan to evacuate diplomats from Iran over security concerns")
Iran war has driven surge in global demand for Russian energy, says Kremlin
The conflict, now in its seventh day, has left the Strait of Hormuz nearly shut, cutting countries around the world off from about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies
 "Iran war has driven surge in global demand for Russian energy, says Kremlin")